Photos: Puyehue Volcano Erupts in Chile

Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4, 2011, prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. The National Service of Geology and Mining said the explosion that sparked the eruption also produced a column of gas 10 kilometers (six miles) high, hours after warning of strong seismic activity in the area.

A cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano near Osorno in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5, 2011. Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4, 2011, prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. The National Service of Geology and Mining said the explosion that sparked the eruption also produced a column of gas 10 kilometers (six miles) high, hours after warning of strong seismic activity in the area. (CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

A military helicopter is backdropped by the cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, as it flies near Rininahue village on June 5, 2011. (CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

A boy and a girl play in their garden covered by ashes in Bariloche, some 1600 kms south west of Buenos Aires, on June 5, 2011, from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (Francisco Ramos Mejia/AFP/Getty Images) #

A view of the Nahuel Hapi lake in Bariloche, some 1600 kms south west of Buenos Aires, on June 5, 2011, covered by ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (Francisco Ramos Mejia/AFP/Getty Images) #

Lightning is seen amid a cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano near Osorno in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5, 2011. Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4, 2011, prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. (CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

A view of the Nahuel Hapi lake in Bariloche, some 1600 kms south west of Buenos Aires, on June 5, 2011, covered by ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (Francisco Ramos Mejia/AFP/Getty Images) #

A view of the Llao Llao hotel golf course in Bariloche, some 1600 kms south west of Buenos Aires, on June 5, 2011, covered by ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (Francisco Ramos Mejia/AFP/Getty Images) #

A view of the 9th hole green at the Llao Llao hotel golf course in Bariloche, some 1600 kms south west of Buenos Aires, on June 5, 2011, covered by ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (Francisco Ramos Mejia/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture taken from Rininahue village showing the cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5, 2011. Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4 prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. (CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Lightning is seen amid a cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano near Osorno in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5, 2011. Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4, 2011, prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. (CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

A woman is evacuated from the village of Rininahue as a cloud of ash billows from Puyehue volcano in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5, 2011. Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4 prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. (CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

This picture released by the Chilean Air Force shows the cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano near Osorno in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, taken on June 5, 2011. (HO/AFP/Getty Images) #

A shepherd walks with his cows in the village of Rininahue as a cloud of ash billows from Puyehue volcano in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5, 2011. (CLAUDIO SANTANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Diario Jornada newspaper through Noticias Argentinas, showing the aspect of the streets of the Argentine city of Trelew in Chubut Province on June 5, 2011 following the eruption of Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, and some 900 km southeast from this city. (DIARIO JORNADA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Diario Jornada newspaper through Noticias Argentinas, showing the footprints left by a dog on June 5, 2011 on the ashes from the Chilean volcano Puyehue, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, fallen in the Argentine city of Trelew in Chubut Province, some 900 km southeast from the volcano. (DIARIO JORNADA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Diario Jornada newspaper through Noticias Argentinas, showing ashes from the Chilean volcano Puyehue, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, covering a car in the Argentine city of Trelew in Chubut Province, some 900 km southeast from the volcano, on June 5, 2011 after it erupted on Saturday for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (DIARIO JORNADA/AFP/Getty Images) #

A man removes volcanic ash from his roof using water from a garden hose in San Carlos de Bariloche, southern Argentina, Sunday June 5, 2011. The Puyehue volcano, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday. The wind carried ash across the Andes to Argentina, dusting this tourist town which had to close its airport. (AP Photo/Alfredo Leiva) #

A car is completely covered in volcanic ash in San Carlos de Bariloche, southern Argentina, Sunday June 5, 2011. The Puyehue volcano, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday. The wind carried ash across the Andes to Argentina, dusting this tourist town which had to close its airport. (AP Photo/Alfredo Leiva) #

A blanket of volcanic ash covers a neighborhood in San Carlos de Bariloche, southern Argentina, Sunday, June 5, 2011. The Puyehue volcano, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday. The wind carried ash across the Andes to Argentina, dusting this tourist town which had to close its airport. (AP Photo/Alfredo Leiva) #

Volcanic lightning is seen over the Puyehue volcano, over 500 miles south of Santiago, Chile, Sunday June 5, 2011. Authorities have evacuated about 600 people in the nearby area. The volcano was calm on Sunday, one day after raining down ash and forcing thousands to flee, although the cloud of soot it had belched out still darkened skies as far away as Argentina. (AP Photo/Francisco Negroni, AgenciaUno) #

Workers use bulldozers to remove volcanic ash that blew in from the erupting Puyehue volcano, into San Carlos de Bariloche, southern Argentina, Sunday June 5, 2011. The volcano, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday. The wind carried ash across the Andes to Argentina, dusting this tourist town which had to close its airport. (AP Photo/Alfredo Leiva) #

A column of smoke and volcanic lightning are seen over the Puyehue volcano, over 500 miles south of Santiago, Chile, Sunday June 5, 2011. Authorities have evacuated about 600 people in the nearby area. The volcano was calm on Sunday, one day after raining down ash and forcing thousands to flee, although the cloud of soot it had belched out still darkened skies as far away as Argentina. (AP Photo/Francisco Negroni, AgenciaUno) #

A column of smoke and volcanic lightning are seen over the Puyehue volcano, over 500 miles south of Santiago, Chile, Sunday June 5, 2011. Authorities have evacuated about 600 people in the nearby area. The volcano was calm on Sunday, one day after raining down ash and forcing thousands to flee, although the cloud of soot it had belched out still darkened skies as far away as Argentina. (AP Photo/Francisco Negroni, AgenciaUno) #

Ashes coming from Chile's Puyehue volcano are removed from the windshield of a car by a woman in San Carlos de Bariloche, southern Argentina, Saturday, June 4, 2011. The volcano, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday, throwing ash into the sky as winds fanned it toward neighboring Argentina. Authorities put the area around the volcano on alert Saturday morning after a flurry of earthquakes. (AP Photo/Alfredo Leiva) #

A vehicle rides on a street covered with ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano in San Carlos de Bariloche, southern Argentina, Saturday, June 4, 2011. The volcano, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday, throwing ash into the sky as winds fanned it toward neighboring Argentina. Authorities put the area around the volcano on alert Saturday morning after a flurry of earthquakes. (AP Photo/Alfredo Leiva) #

Picture released by Diario Rio Negro newspaper through Noticias Argentinas, showing a man wearing a mask on June 4, 2011 in the southern Argentine city of Bariloche as ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains fall after it erupted on Saturday for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (DIARIO RIO NEGRO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Cars covered with ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano are seen in San Carlos de Bariloche, southern Argentina, Saturday, June 4, 2011. The volcano, dormant for decades, erupted in south-central Chile on Saturday, throwing ash into the sky as winds fanned it toward neighboring Argentina. Authorities put the area around the volcano on alert Saturday morning after a flurry of earthquakes. (AP Photo/Alfredo Leiva) #

Picture released by Chile's Agencia Uno showing one of the first evacuees arriving at a temporary shelter mounted in the Chilean city of Entrelagos, as ashes and smoke billow from Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Cordon Caulle nestled in the Andes mountains in southern Chile, on June 4, 2011 after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people. (FRANCISCO NEGRONI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Chile's Agencia Uno showing two of the first evacuees arriving at a temporary shelter mounted at a high school in the Chilean city of Entrelagos, as ashes and smoke billow from Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Cordon Caulle nestled in the Andes mountains in southern Chile, on June 4, 2011 after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people. (FRANCISCO NEGRONI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Diario Rio Negro newspaper through Noticias Argentinas, showing a couple looking at the distance on June 4, 2011 in the southern Argentine city of Bariloche as ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains fall after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (DIARIO RIO NEGRO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Chile's newspaper El Austral de Osorno through Noticias Argentinas taken from the Chilean city of Osorno, showing ashes and smoke billowing from Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains in southern Chile, on June 4, 2011 after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people. (EL AUSTRAL DE OSORNO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Diario Rio Negro newspaper through Noticias Argentinas, showing a man wearing a mask on June 4, 2011 in the southern Argentine city of Bariloche as ashes from Chile's Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains fall after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people in Chile. (DIARIO RIO NEGRO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Picture released by Chile's newspaper El Austral de Osorno through Noticias Argentinas taken from the Chilean city of Osorno, showing ashes and smoke billowing from Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Andes mountains in southern Chile, on June 4, 2011 after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people. (EL AUSTRAL DE OSORNO/AFP/Getty Images) #

A soldier helps to a girl during a preventive evacuation at the surroundings of the Puyehue volcano in Entrelagos some 1,100 kilometers south of Santiago, Chile, Saturday, June 4, 2011. The Puyehue volcano is erupting, and authorities have evacuated about 600 people living nearby. There have been no reports of injuries. (AP Photo/Martin Iniguez) #

Picture released by Chile's Agencia Uno taken from the Chilean city of Entrelagos, showing ashes and smoke billowing from Puyehue volcano, located 870 km south of Santiago in the Cordon Caulle nestled in the Andes mountains in southern Chile, on June 4, 2011 after it erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people. (FRANCISCO NEGRONI/AFP/Getty Images) #

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yes, it´s amazing and the nature shows us our real position, a grain of sand in this beautiful world!… I´m chilean and only a clarify: The eruption isn´t in the Puyheue vulcano, is in the “Cordón Caulle”, set of cracks closer to the Puyehue #